- Introduction
- Background
- Topics
- Archaeology & the Discovery of the Dunhuang Caves
- Explorers
- Artefacts as Evidence
- Understanding Manuscripts
- Links
The discovery of the Dunhuang caves was undoubtedly one of the most exciting archaeological moments in history. While archaeology is best known for uncovering hidden or buried treasures it is also a way of learning about the ordinary everyday details of those people who lived in the past; where and how they lived, what they believed and the legacy they passed on to future generations. Archaeologists study these things by looking at the physical remains left behind by people. These can include artefacts such as pottery, tools, or jewellery or they can be manuscripts such as those held at the British Library.
The Hungarian-born explorer Sir Marc Aurel Stein (1862-1943) fought rivals at the turn of the last century to be the first to uncover the long-lost civilisations. The evidence had lain buried for up to 2,000 years in tombs, tips and temples beneath the sands of the Taklamakan and Gobi deserts.
In 1907 Stein came to a previously walled-up cave near Dunhuang (which means 'the blazing beacon') in north-west China, where thousands of manuscripts, paintings and a few printed items had been stored for almost 1000 years. Today we know much about the Silk Road and its inhabitants. Archaeology has played a huge part in building this picture for us and the collection held at the British Library and other British Institutions largely came from the archaeological discoveries of the early 20th century.
Follow links below to learn about these events and then think about some of the questions posed below.
See items from Dunhuang held at the British Library and at the British Museum
Ethics & Opinions - Is it right that these objects were taken from their place of origin?
What are the benefits of keeping the objects in European institutions?
The items discovered covered many topics – using the links above what can you discover about everyday life on the Silk Road?
About which other areas of life do the Dunhuang manuscripts tell us?